Are you suffering from gadget fatigue?

Once upon a time, before leaving the house each morning, you’d check you had your keys, wallet and watch.

For some people that list now includes: mobile phone, iPod, Blackberry, sat-nav, camera, laptop, USB key and portable games console.

Weren’t we told that things like the iPhone, with its camera, phone, Internet and email, would finally bring about “convergence”, where you only have to carry around one expensive plastic box?

The average U.S. household owns 25 consumer electronics products, researchers say. Many of them never seem to be compatible with each other.

With Christmas looming, millions of people will buy a whole range of new gadgets, each with piles of assorted cables, chargers and accessories.

Nintendo’s Wii games console, the Apple iPhone and Microsoft’s Xbox are among this year’s must-have presents, says research firm Hitwise.

All those shiny new toys will consign thousands of old mobiles, MP3 players and games consoles to the scrapheap.

More than 23 billion pounds worth of unwanted electrical items is gathering dust in drawers, lofts and garages, according to another survey.

Will you be queuing for the latest gizmos this Christmas or have you finally decided that less is more?

And is there any gadget that you really wouldn’t leave the house without?